Extensible shelf



Sept. 5, 1933. E. G. CHARTER 1,925,371

' K EXTENSIBLE SHELF Filed Sept. 8, 1931 2 SheetSI-Sheet. 2

f'wdra G. Char-Ze n Patented Sept. 5, 1933 s NITE STATES EXTENSIBLE SHELF Edward G. Charter, Highland Park, Mich., as-

signor to Copeland Products, Inc.,

Mount Clemens, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 8, 1931. Serial No. 561,568

17 Claims. (Cl. 211-153) My invention relates to an extensible shelf and more particularly to an extensible shelf of light metal rod construction.

In refrigerators, show cases used in stores,

meat markets and other shops and pantries of various kinds, also stove ovens, light metal trays or other shelving are generally provided to receive the objects to be stored thereon. In refrigerators and show cases for storing food stuffs,

0 these trays are usually made of spaced light metal rods, tubes or bars to insure the proper ventilation necessary to preserve the food stuffs. Difficulty often arises in storing bottles and other tall objects in refrigerators, show cases and the like employing such shelving and in some cases one or more of the light metal rod trays or shelves have been cut out or formed with recesses to receive the necks of bottles and provide space for storing Vsuch tall objects. Such design has not been entirely satisfactory for several reasons. The recess is xed and will accommodate only a denite number of bottles or other tall objects and no more. Furthermore,

the space occupied by the recesses is totally wasted for lshelving when no bottles are stored.

Many times, more recess space for bottles is desired than ordinarily required and provided and at other times more shelving space is required for small objects when no bottles or tall objects 3 are stored. The recess in that case constitutes a great waste of space. I

I have overcome these' objections and didiculties by the provision of the improved extensible shelf of my invention which provides the reand bottles regardless of their number and is variable to provide the right sized recess for any given requirement and at the same time always providing a maximum amount of shelving space by reason of the convertibility of the entire recess space or any portion thereof, into shelving space whenmore shelving and less recess space is needed. It is an object of my invention to provide an improved extensible shelf. L

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved extensible rod or vtube tray for use in food storage cabinets.

A further object of my invention is to provide shelving for use in food storage cabinets having a variable size recess for the accommodation of tall objects. l A still further object ofmy invention is to provide a tray and shelving for usein a storage compartment to provide a recess o! variable size fori-receiving tall objects throughout a readily variable portion of its area.

Farther objects and advantages win readilyr become apparent throughout a. reading of the quired amount of storage space for tall objects.

following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet illustrating one manner in which the improved shelving of my invention may be employed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved extensible shelf of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view of one of the devices by which the shelf o1 my invention may be supported, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the extensible shelf of my invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further modication of the extensible shelf of my invention, and

Figure 10 is a plan view of the modification shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, I have illustrated in Figure 2, one modification of the extensible shelf of my invention which includes an outer frame 12 open` at the front end and having .a cross brace 13 extending from side to side of the frame intermediate the front and rear ends thereof. This frame is preferably made up of light metal tubing or rod. A pair of guide rods 14 are suitably joined to the frame 12 by welding or in some otherv suitable manner and extend parallel to the sides of the frame from the front of the frame to the back thereof. The surface of the rear portion of the shelf extending from the cross brace 13 rearwardly, is made up of a 'plurality lof equally spaced hollow tubes 15 all arranged parallel to the sides of the frame 12 and the guide rods 14 extending from the rear of the frame 12 to which they are fixed by welding or any other suitable manner to the cross brace 13 to which they are fixed at their forward ends in a similar manner.

It will be noted that the cross brace 13 extends downwardly below the tubes 15 as shown in Figure 4 and extensions 16 on the upper surface of the cross brace support the tubes 15 at the point where they are welded to the brace 13. The partei the shelf thus far described is fixed.

An extensible tray 17 is provided for the for,- ward portion-'of the shelf and is made up of a plurality of equally spaced light metal rods 18, all of which' are parallel to the sides of the frame 12 and the guide rods 14 and are adapted to fit within the hollow tubes 15 of the rear fixed portion of the shelf in a slidable telescoping manner. 'Ihe front ends of the rods 18 are fixed to a cross piece 19 which may be of light metal tubing, by welding or other suitable means. The extreme ends of the piece 19 are formed into a hook or clamp at 20 and iit over the guide rods 14 at each end and are slidable thereon.

It is apparent that the tray 17 may be slid inwardly and outwardly relative to the rear portion of the tray and the rods 13 telescope within the hollowtubes ,15 while the front cross piece 19 is slidably supported at either hooked end 2O by the rods 14. The tray 17 may be adjusted to any desirable position and form a recess of any desired size for receiving necks of bottles or other tall objects. The tray may be extended forwardlyto provide the maximum amount of shelving space when no tall objectsv are being stored.

In Figure 1 1 have illustrated the application of one of the extensible shelves of my invention to a refrigerator 21, the shelf being supported on hooks 22 fixed in the side of the refrigerator which support the frame 12 of the shelf. Any suitable supports may be used and it is to be understood that the shelf is equally adapted for use in other types of storage cabinets with the same advantageous results, such as show cases in meat markets, grocery stores or 'pantries A portion of a shelf may be made extensible in the manner of my invention, if desired, instead of the entire front portion.

In Figures 6, 7 and 6 I have illustrated a modifled form of the extensible shelf of my invention. This modication employs the same frame 12, side guide rods 14 and the rear portion is made up of light metal tubes or rods 15, thev same as in the form shown in Figure 2 with the exception that the members 15\ need not be hollow. A cross brace 24 is `employed which is constructed differently than the 'brace 13 of the first form.

This brace is a light piece of metal xed across the frame 12 from side to side intermediate the front and baci; thereof and is provided with a plurality of holes to receive the front ends of the rods 15 in which they are welded or otherwise fixed. The structure thus far described forms the fixed portion of the shelf.

An extensible tray 17, the same as that shown in Figure 2, is provided with a plurality of rods 18 secured at their forward ends to the cross piece 19 which is provided with end hooks 20 slid able on the guide rods 14. The rods 18 of this tray, however, are spaced dierently than those of the first described modification. Instead of being in alignment with the rods 15 ofthe rear dried portion they are spaced in between the`rods 15 as shown in Figure 6. andl they are iixed at their rear ends to a cross piece 25 and may be welded thereto.

The cross piece 25 is provided with a plurality of holes 26 for slidably receiving the rods l5.' thus the cross piece is slidable on the fixed rods 15 oi" the shelf (Figure y'7). The cross brace 24 to which the forward ends of the rods 15 are secured, is provided with a plurality of holes 27 for slldably receiving the rods 18 of the extensible tray 17 (Figure 8). It will be apparent that the tray 17- may therefore be extended until the cross piece 19 abuts the front ends of the frame 12 and slid rearwardly until the piece 19 engages the cross brace 24. This extensible shelf may be used in the same manner and for'the e purrecaen pose and results as my first described embodiment of the invention.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a third modification of my invention. 1n this form I provide the fixed rear portion, which is made up of the rods l5 secured at their front ends to a cross piece 30 and at their rear ends to a frame 31, and with a pair of novel side frames one on each side of the fixed shelf.

These side frames are made up of a light metal rod 32 curled to form a spiral 33 at its forward end and bent back to form an elongated channel at its rear portion. The fixed shelf is secured to this rod side frame 32 by welding the ends of the cross piece 30 and frame 31 to theV upper rear portion of the frame, as clearly illustrated in Figure 9. A piece of rod 34 having a spiral 35 formed at one end similar to the spiral 33 of the rod 32 is Welded to the rod 32 to complete the side frame in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. The forwardly extending butt end of the upper bent back portion of the rod 32 is welded to the spiral 35 and the end of the rod 34 is similarly welded to the spiral 33 of the rod 32..

The side frames thus described, have an elongated channel 36 extending throughout their length and the spirals 33 and 35 open downwardly into this channel and their ends form shoulders 37 and 38 respectively.

The extensible tray 17 made up of rods 18 fixed at their ends to cross pieces 39 and 40 of light metal rod is mounted as shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings with the ends of the cross rods 39 and 40 riding in the channel 36. The tray 17 is thus slidable rearwardly and forwardly. When the tray is slid entirely outwardly the ends of the cross rods 39 and 40 will be raised in the spirais 33 and 35 and rest in the shoulders 37 and 38 formed therein. The slidable tray in this modification acting in drop leaf fashion.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commen surate with the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. An extensible shelf including a border frame open at its front end, a planular fixed shelf at the rear portion of said frame and a movable shelf at the front open portion of said frame, lying approximately in the plane of said fixed shelf slidable relative to the rear portion.

` 2. An extensible shelf including a fixed rear portion, guides fixed at each side of said rear portion extending forwardly thereof and a front portion slidable on said guides into overlapping relation with respect to the rear portion.

3. An extensible shelf including a b'order frame open at its front end, guides parallel to the sides of said border frame, a cross member extending from one side edge of said frame to the other forming a recess between said member and the sides of the border frame at its open front end, a plurality of rod members fixed between the rear of the frame and cross member to form a fixed shelf at the rear portion thereof and a movable shelf disposed across said recess and slidable on said guides relative to the rear fixed shelf to vary the size of the recess.

4. An extensible shelf including a border frame at the rear and side edges thereof, a cross member parallel to the rear side of said border frame extending from side to side of the frame and fixed thereto dividing the frame in a front and rear section, said front section forming a recess open at its front end, a'plurality of lcross pieces fixed between the rear side of saidl border frame and the cross member to form a fixed shelf surface at y the rear fixed shelf surface to vary the size o f the IeCeSS.

5. An extensible-shelf including a .border frame at the back and side edges thereof open at its front end, a plurality of forwardly extending hol- -low tubes fixed at the rear portion of said frame to form a fixed shelf and a plurality of rearwardly extending rods receivable within said tubes and slidable therein to form a slidable shelf at the open front end portion.

6. An extensible shelf including a border frame at the back and side edges thereof open at its front end, a plurality of forwardly extending hollow tubes fixed at the rear portion of said frame to form a fixed shelf, a cross member extending from side to side of said frame intermediate its front and back ends to support the forward ends of the fixedshelf and a plurality of rearwardly extending rods slidable within said tubes to form a slidable shelf at the open front end of the frame.

'7. An extensible shelf including a border frame at the back and side edges thereof open at its front end, a plurality of forwardly extending hollow tubes fixed at the rear portion of said frame to form a fixed shelf, a cross member extending from side to side of said frame intermediate its front and back ends to support the forward ends of the fixed shelf, a `pluralityof rearwardly extending rods slidable within said tubes to form a slidable shelf at the open front end of the frame, a crossmelnber fixed to the front ends of said rods and forming the front end of said slidable shelf, and a pair of guides for slidably supporting said cross member in sliding movements relative to the rear shelf.

8. An extensible shelf including a rear fixed shelf portion made up of a plurality of parallel hollow tubes, a border frame surrounding said shelf and extending forwardly thereof to form a recess in front of said shelf, and a slidable shelf for said recess made up of a plurality 'of parallel rods adapted to telescope within the'tubes of the fixed shelf in slidable relation thereto to varythe 10. An extensible shelf including a border frame extending across the back and side edges thereof, a rear fixed shelf portion comprising a plurality of parallel rods fixed at their front ends to a cross member, said cross member being apertured between the points at which the rods are fixed thereto, and a front slidable shelf portion in the open end of the border frame slidable relative to the rear fixed portion and comprising a. plurality of parallel rods slidable in the apertures of the cross member, a rear cross member fixed at the rear ends o f the rods of the frontl slidable -fo'rmedi at the forward end of each side frame shelf portion, said rear cross member having a plurality of apertures adapted to slidably receive the rods of the rear flxed shelf portion.

11. An extensible 4shelf including a fixed rear shelf portion, a side frame fixed to each side of said rear shelfportion and extending forwardly thereof to form a. recess open at its front end, each of said side frames comprising an elongated channel, a spiral having an interior shoulder opening into said channel, a similar spiral having an interior shoulder formed in said frame adjacent the front end of the fixed shelf portion opening into the channel, and a movable shelf portion extending across the recess at the front of, the side frames slidably` mounted in the channels and spirals of the side frames to open and close said recess.

12. An extensible refrigerator cabinet shelf including a border frame, means forming a planular shelf iixedly supported by said frame, said shelf being of less area than that defined by said frame, and means slidably guided relative to said shelf for optionally completing the full shelf area of said frame.

13. In a shelf combination, a fixed shelf, a pair of spaced members fixed thereto and projecting therefrom defining the maximum shelf area of said combination, and an auxiliary shelf structure slidably co-operatingwith said members for supporting purposes and movable into and out of the area of said fixed shelf.

14. A shelf comprising a marginal frame including a pair of parallel side runs, a rear run joining certain ends of said parallel runs, a reinforcing member joining said side runs intermediate their ends, a series of tubesrigidly secured to said rear run and said reinforcing member, a slidable member, and a series of rods rigidly mounted on said slidable member and received within said tubes.

15. A shelf comprising a marginal frame including a pair of parallel side runs, an end run joining certain ends of said side runs, a reinforcing member joining said side runs intermediate their ends, a series of tubes rigidly secured to said end run and said reinforcing member, guide rods secured in said frame to extend parallel to said side runs and saidv tubes, a member slidably mounted on said guide rods, and rods on said slidable member having their ends received in said tubes.

16. A shelf comprising a marginal frame including a pair of vparallel side runs, Aan end run joining certain ends of said side runs, a reinforcing member joining said side runs intermediate their ends, a series of tubes rigidly secured to said end run and said reinforcing member, guide rods secured in said frame to extend parallel to said side runs and said tubes, a transversely extending tubular member having its ends fiattened'and looped around said guide rods 'to be slidably supported thereby, and rods secured on said transverse tubular member and having their ends slidably received in said tubes.

17. A shelf comprising a series of tubes supported in parallel spaced relation, stationary f guides parallel with said tubes and extending outwardly beyond one end thereof, a transverse member slidably mounted on said guides, and rods on said transverse member slidably received in said tubes.

EDWARD G. CHARTER. 

